How did these COVID-19 restrictions affect people with disabilities, many of whom already felt unwelcome or ignored by their church even in normal times?

Dear Church, As restrictions are being lifted and you plan for being together in person once again,

please think of us...

In every season, in every storm In moments of questions In moments of fear In moments when everything seems so unclear Be still and know that you are loved

There is a subtle panic

in her eyes: she is trying to read me, trying to understand what it is I could want

from her, but she picks up nothing at all from my best encouraging face.

During this season of forced and mutual deprivation, when our consolations are taken from us one by one and we are continually and graphically reminded of the mortality of our species, I turn to the men I support for wisdom and guidance.

These men, despite their depths of hard-won wisdom and delightful companionship, are well-accustomed to strangers keeping their distance in public places. The conditions we ironically bemoan on social media are barely distinguishable from how they have spent most of the days of their lives. They are old pros at quarantine, and they are teaching me.